The Alaska Air Group will buy back up to $650 million of stock, in a move approved by the Board of Directors. The buyback will equal about 10-percent of the company’s current market capitalization and comes on the heels of the current $250-million stock buyback.In a prepared statement, the Chief Financial Officer stressed that the Alaska Air Group will finance the stock repurchases with cash on hand and cash flow from operations. Since 2007, the Alaska Air Group has instigated 8 stock repurchase initiatives at a cost of $519-million. The Board of Directors also approved a quarterly cash dividend of 25-cents per share to be paid on June 4. The Alaska Air Group is the parent company for Alaska Airlines.read more

Admired for having the most stable management in the domestic IT sector, Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) recent changes to top-level management has drawn the attention of industry watchers, who believe the changes to be the company’s strategy to retain talent by promoting a job growth for high level management.The company has long maintained a fixed top-level management until the head of its business process services Abid Ali Neemuchwala moved to Wipro as chief operating officer in March this year.Even though Abid landing at Wipro garnered huge public attention, other executives who had quit the company went unnoticed. Abid, who worked at TCS for about 23 years, was responsible for managing over 12% of the company’s revenues.”With the CEO being quite a long way from retirement you have leaders of similar age moving on to CEO/COO roles as they will never get the chance at TCS. Abid is one such person. They are also moving aside people to allow up-&-comers space to lead and grow,” The Economic Times quoted Peter Bendor-Samuel, CEO at IT outsourcing consultancy Everest, as saying.N Chandrasekaran, who has been serving as the CEO of TCS for the past five years, got his contract extended by another five last year. Apart from the CEO, some other top executives have stayed with the company for decades.Alarmed by the threat of talent leaving the company in the absence of poor prospects for job growth for top-executives, TCS has recently started shuffling the high-level cadre.TCS replaced Vish Iyer, who was the company’s president for Asia Pacific region, with Girish Ramachandran in January. Iyer was promoted to global head for legal and corporate affairs.In another move, TCS appointed J Rajagopal as advisor, who previously was executive vice president and global head for consulting.Krishnan Ramanujam has been given the responsibility of consulting besides being a global head of enterprise solutions.”What new roles will they grow people into? At the mid-level, you can always find new roles, but as the employees get more senior and valuable, and if the top management is stable, there is a natural ceiling,” said a consultant with an outsourcing advisory.By shuffling the top-level, India’s largest IT services provider seems to be following the path of rivals Infosys and Wipro, which have brought major changes to the top-level to drive a transformation in the changing IT landscape.In April, country’s third largest IT services firm Wipro elevated Rishad Premji, eldest son of promoter Azim Premji, to the company board as a full time director, effective from 1 May.Changes are not just limited to top-level as TCS appointed Daniel Praveen as new CEO of its insurance business process outsourcing unit Diligenta in April. The firm has also made Rammohan Gourneni as head of TCS – France.”I think some senior leaders like Abid who want a shot at the brass ring may start looking outside. You could see one or two leaders leave the company for roles elsewhere,” Bendor-Samuel said.read more

Donald TrumpDonald Trump called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on winning a referendum granting him sweeping new powers that exposed bitter divisions in the country.The White House said they also discussed a US missile strike in Syria and the fight against the Islamic State group.Trump’s congratulations on Monday were in contrast with EU leaders who have been reserved in their reaction to the narrow victory and even his own State Department, which earlier noted concerns expressed by international observers over the “uneven playing field”.Returning in triumph to his presidential palace in Ankara, Erdogan angrily rejected the criticism, telling the monitors: “Know your place.”The referendum was seen as crucial not just for shaping Turkey’s political system but also the future strategic direction of a nation that has been a NATO member since 1952 and a European Union hopeful for half a century.Showing no sign of pulling his punches, Erdogan said Turkey could hold further referendums on its EU bid and re-introducing the death penalty.The “Yes” camp won 51.41 percent in Sunday’s referendum, according to complete results released by election authorities.But the opposition immediately cried foul, claiming a clean vote would have made a difference of several percentage points and handed them victory.The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) said they would challenge the results from most ballot boxes due to alleged violations.”There is only one decision to ease the situation in the context of the law — the Supreme Election Board (YSK) should annul the vote,” the Dogan news agency quoted CHP deputy leader Bulent Tezcan as saying.The referendum has no “democratic legitimacy”, HDP spokesman and lawmaker Osman Baydemir told reporters in Ankara.There were protests in Istanbul with a few thousand people crowding the anti-Erdogan Besiktas and Kadikoy districts, blowing whistles and chanting “We are shoulder to shoulder against fascism”.’Unlevel playing field’The opposition had already complained of an unfair campaign that saw the “Yes” backers swamp the airwaves and use billboards across the country in a saturation advertising campaign.International observers agreed the campaign was conducted on an “unlevel playing field” and that the vote count itself was marred by procedural changes that removed key safeguards.”The legal framework… remained inadequate for the holding of a genuinely democratic referendum,” the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) monitors said in a statement.The Turkish opposition was particularly incensed by a decision by the YSK to allow voting papers without official stamps to be counted, which they said opened the way for fraud.”Late changes in counting procedures removed an important safeguard,” said Cezar Florin Preda, head of the PACE delegation.But Erdogan said Turkey had no intention of paying any attention to the monitors’ report.He added: “This country held the most democratic polls that have never been seen in any other country in the West.”‘End of the dream’Erdogan earlier congratulated cheering supporters at Ankara’s airport for “standing tall” in the face of the “crusader mentality” of the West.Getting back to business as usual, his cabinet swiftly extended by another three months the already nine month state of emergency imposed after last July’s failed coup.There were also signs of a looming crisis with the EU.Erdogan reaffirmed he would now hold talks on reinstating capital punishment — a move that would automatically end Turkey’s EU bid — and would hold a referendum if it did not get enough votes in parliament to become law.German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that if Ankara were to bring back the death penalty, the move would be “synonymous with the end of the European dream”.In an interview in the Bild newspaper to be published Tuesday, he warned Turkey that “joining would not work right now”.Erdogan said Turkey could hold a referendum on the membership bid. “What George, Hans or Helga say does not interest us,” he said, using typical European names.’Big cities say No’Turkey’s new political system is due to come into effect after elections in November 2019, although Erdogan is expected to rapidly rejoin the ruling Justice Development Party (AKP) he founded but had to leave when he became president.It would dispense with the prime minister’s post and centralise the entire executive bureaucracy under the president, giving Erdogan the direct power to appoint ministers.Erdogan’s victory was far tighter than expected, emerging only after several nail-biting hours late Sunday which saw the “No” result dramatically catch up.Turkey’s three largest cities — Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir — all voted “No” although “Yes” prevailed in Erdogan’s Anatolian heartland.read more

.Two High Court benches on Sunday declined to hear a writ petition filed seeking its directives to arrest the killers of Barguna youth Rifat Sharif within 24 hours, reports UNB.Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond who filed the writ said it will be placed before another bench on Monday for hearing.He said the prime accused in the murder case is still at large although four days have elapsed since the brutal murder.Home and law secretaries, inspector general of police and director general of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been made respondents to the writ petition.Rifat Sharif, 22, was hacked to death by criminals in front of his wife in broad daylight in Barguna district town on Wednesday. The incident was caught on surveillance camera.Rifat’s father Dulal Sharif had filed a case against 12 named and 5-7 unnamed people after the murder.Six people, including two FIR-named accused, have so far been arrested over the murder.Police on Thursday issued red alert at all international airports, river ports and land ports across Bangladesh so that the killers cannot flee the country.read more

Boyd Rutherford, the State’s ninth Lt. Governor and third African-American elected to the position, signaled that 2017 might be the Happy New Year Baltimoreans have needed since the 2015 unrest that shocked the city and nation.Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford says he and the Hogan administration are ready to work with new Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh. (Courtesy photo)In an exclusive interview with the AFRO Rutherford said that he and Gov. Larry Hogan are ready to press the reset button with Mayor Catherine Pugh to address a range of issues including the demolition and redevelopment process, education and transportation challenges that have been longstanding points of frustration with Baltimore residents.Moving Forward with Vacant Building Demolition Program“We will accelerate what previous governors tried to do with those vacant properties,” Rutherford said in reference to the state’s major demolition program known as Project C.O.R.E. that announced $16 million in demolition grants for community projects December 9th.Community members like Joyce Smith with Project RENEW (Residents engaged in Neighborhood Empowerment and Wellbeing) remain concerned about community input in the State funded demolition process.“We need to include residents living here who like their neighborhoods with whatever hardships people may see, to bring about neighborhoods change,” Joyce told the AFRO.Rutherford agrees. “It’s up to the City to decide what to do with the property. I don’t necessarily mean City Hall. I mean the people who City Hall represents will decide what it is they want in those communities,” he said.Transferring Control of Baltimore City Public Schools Back to Baltimore Rutherford projected big changes ahead for Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS).“The Mayor would like to end the partnership and have the city take back control of the schools and I agree with that,” said Rutherford referring to the present system of joint oversight of Baltimore City Public schools by the Governor’s Office and The City of Baltimore. Currently the Governor and Mayor jointly appoint the City’s Board of School Commissioners who in turn hire and oversee Baltimore City Schools C.E.O. Sonja Santilesis.“The challenge with the partnership is that no one is in control,” Said Rutherford. “I think there should have been an audit of the school system called for years ago,” he said expressing concern over BCPS’s current $129 million deficit.Rutherford is waiting for the City of Baltimore to develop a process to transfer full control of BCPS back into the hands of the Mayor’s office.“We anticipate the City taking full control of schools. It’s just a matter of how that process unwinds,” Rutherford said. “There’s a lot of State and local money that doesn’t seem to always reach the classroom, so there’s concern there,” he cautioned.“When [Pugh] takes it over I think it’s smart on her part to call for a full audit. How do you get yourself in the position of a $129 million shortfall?” Rutherford said.“We need to see what the city’s going to do to address that issue before they come to the State. I think the new Superintendent is trying to get her arms around what’s going on,” he said.Rutherford emphasized that he and the Governor continue to invest in innovative projects like P Tech schools to transform education across the state“We’ve been trying to educate kids the same way for 100 years and we need to bring innovation to the process,” Rutherford said.“Last year we introduced P-Tech Schools at Carver and at Dunbar. The next locations for P-Tech Schools will be Prince Georges, Lower Eastern Shore and Western Maryland.”“Those programs (P-Tech schools) are set up so the kids will be first in line for the skilled jobs that are here today and will be here in the coming years,” Rutherford said.P-Tech (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) is an educational model co-developed by IBM International blending an integrated six-year high school, college and work place skills program. Students graduate with both their high school diploma and a two-year post-secondary degree from an accredited community college.A New Slate for A Baltimore Transportation PlanRutherford is open to new ideas to expand transit options for Baltimoreans, referring to the failed Red Line project championed by Former Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.“If you are going to come up with a rail system, it should be an integrated system,” Rutherford said of the $2.9 billion rail line project proposed by the Blake administration. Red Line advocates said that the project would allow West Baltimoreans access to jobs on the city’s East side.Rutherford said the proposal offered by Rawlings-Blake did not provide connectivity between the city’s current rail lines. “If you look at D.C.’s metro system, it is an integrated system. Baltimore has a Metro that is on one line and Light Rail system that don’t connect.”“The plan was to run a third system, the Red Line, that wouldn’t connect with either one of those. In my opinion, it doesn’t make any sense.”Working with Mayor Catherine Pugh Rutherford will do all he can to work with current Mayor Catherine Pugh to reset the agenda in areas where city-state cooperation is essential.“I think the relationship with the new mayor is going to be something good. I’ve known her for a number of years and the Governor and she have a good relationship.”“I think we can work together on what the real needs are and come up with solutions that make will sense for everybody,” Rutherford said.read more

Kolkata: Kolkata Police has introduced “The Winners”- a special all-women patrolling team to combat and prevent incidents of molestation and eve-teasing in the city.This is the first time in the history of Kolkata Police that such a special team has been set up to ensure safety and security of women.The women police will be patrolling different parts of the city on scooters and they will reach a spot soon after receiving information of any untoward incident. The team of “The Winners” initiated their journey from Lalbazar in presence of Rajeev Kumar, Commissioner of Police and other senior police officers. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Merc, 2 B’deshi bystanders killedAll the women police personnel had received their training for the past three months in the Police Training School (PTS). Most importantly, all the women police personnel will be having body-cams like traffic sergeants.The women police will be deployed at different parts of the city. They will be maintaining vigil while patrolling different areas. It will make the “public places safer for women”.The women police will be patrolling on scooters at different locations in different parts of the city. Patrolling in areas including Park Street, Esplanade, Rabindra Sadan crossing, Elgin Road, Gariahat, Shyambazar, Ultadanga and areas around Victoria Memorial Hall, will be carried out on a regular basis. Also Read – Naihati: 10 councillors return to TMC from BJPIt may be mentioned that the police have already taken several steps to check incidents of sexual harassment on women. Now, with introduction of “The Winners”, the rate of such incidents will go down further. The women police have been trained in such a way that they are capable of taking prompt action to save a woman from becoming a victim of sexual harassment. In case there is need of any more manpower to tackle a situation, the women police will be contacting the concerned police officers and subsequent steps will be taken.Earlier, it was found that women had to approach traffic sergeants and constables for any kind of help. Now, with introduction of “The Winners”, they can approach an on-duty woman officer and at the same time, will feel comfortable in sharing their problems.It may be recalled that during the training of women police personnel at Police Training School, Kumar had given necessary advice to ensure that they get prepared properly.read more

Kolkata: Some MBBS students at the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) continued their demonstration for the fifth consecutive day, with the demand of a new hostel.The CMCH authorities on Friday categorically mentioned that they will not be able to fulfill the demands of the agitating students. Some of the representatives of the medical students taking part in the agitation met the principal of CMCH and held a prolonged discussion in this regard. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Merc, 2 B’deshi bystanders killedIt has been learnt that senior officials of the CMCH had urged the students to lift the agitation which they turned down. According to the students, the agitation will be continued till the demands are met.The incident, however, had no impact on the health services of the hospital. It may be mentioned that a section of medical students at CMCH continued their demonstration so that their various demands are met, including setting up of a new hostel. Also Read – Naihati: 10 councillors return to TMC from BJPThe second, third and fourth year MBBS students of CMCH started a protest agitation inside the hospital campus, demanding a new hostel for them.The move was made after the first year MBBS students were given a new hostel by the CMCH authorities.The students taking part in the agitation alleged that the hostel meant for them is not in a good condition. The hostel rooms are not up to the mark. The students had also submitted a deputation to the CMCH principal on Tuesday, placing their various demands. These students have alleged that the hostel rooms are unhygienic and one cannot stay there for too long. The matter was taken up with the CMCH authorities but they are yet to take any step in this regard.They also said that first year students have got a new hostel, while the second, third and fourth year MBBS students have been deprived.CMCH principal Uchhal Bhadra urged the agitating students to stop the demonstration, which they refused to do. The students also threatened to continue the agitation until anew hostel is being allotted to them.read more

Watch Next How to download The Sentinel’s new FREE app Click to playTap to play The video will start in 1Cancel Play now Watch again We pay for stories! Send your videos to video@trinitymirror.comWelcome to The Sentinel’s breaking news service bringing you all the latest updates from Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire on Tuesday, April 3 Our team of reporters will be updating this live service with all the latest on the weather, traffic and travel as well as news, sport and entertainment through the day. We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates in our live news feed below. For the latest news and breaking news visit www.thesentinel.co.uk . Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Follow us on Twitter @ SentinelStaffs – the official Sentinel account – real news in real time. We’re also on www.facebook.com/sentinelstaffs – your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire & South Cheshire. Key EventsArmed police incident12:39Lorry carrying hay catches fire08:17Helicopter assisting church07:0919:32Traffic busy around Crewe Green roundaboutA534 Crewe Green Road Eastbound busy but moving before the roadworks at A5020 University Way (Crewe Green roundabout). 18:27Slow traffic on A500Heavy traffic on A500 Queensway Southbound before A53 Etruria Road (Basford Roundabout). Travel time is five minutes. 18:24Police arrest wanted man on M6Police have just arrested a man wanted in Merseyside on the M6.A North West Motorway Police spokesman said:Van linked to wanted person from Merseyside Police sighted on the M6 J16. Stopped and another one our customers at Eastern Custody. “18:09M6 northbound to shut overnight for three nightsWork is set to start at 10pm tonight. More here.Road closed sign18:05Traffic problem on the A500Traffic problem and heavy traffic on A500 D Road Westbound at A5007 City Road (City Road Interchange). 17:05Slow traffic on M6 northboundVery slow traffic on M6 Northbound between J16 A500 (Crewe / Stoke-On-Trent) and J17 A534 (Sandbach / Crewe). 16:52Heavy traffic on the A50 in Stoke-on-TrentHeavy traffic on A50 Westbound from Meir Tunnel towards the A500 D Road (Sideway Roundabout). Travel time is four minutes.16:48Roads continuing to cause delays on A34Slow traffic on A34 Stone Road in both directions around A513 Beaconside / A34, congestion to Whitgreave Lane and on A513 Beaconside to B5066 Sandon Road. In the roadworks area.Roadworks near to the island by The Shire Horse pub causing delays.Congestion is reported to points 1 and 2 due to roadworks at A. (Image: Inrix)16:46A500 busy but movingA500 Queensway Southbound busy but moving before A53 Etruria Road (Basford Roundabout). Travel time is four minutes.16:40Slow traffic continues on A50 from Derbyshire to StaffordshireQueueing traffic and traffic heavier than normal on A50 Westbound between Marston Lane (Doveridge) and B5030 Ashbourne Road (Little Chef roundabout), congestion on A518 Derby Road to Dove Walk / Dove Fields.Traffic is much slower along this stretch, awaiting further details as to the possible cause. (Image: Inrix)16:31Accident on A52 in Stoke Slow traffic and partially blocked due to accident on A52 Elenora Street at Copeland Street, congestion to Station Road.Police are on scene. (Image: Inrix)16:07Heavy traffic on A500Heavy traffic on A500 D Road Southbound before M6 J15.15:56Stoke-on-Trent man charged after football derbyThe 30-year-old from Burslem will appear in court later this month following the Crewe Alexandra vs Port Vale game. More here.Cheshire Police’s ‘Big Blue Van’ was out for the operation15:38One lane closed due to accident on M6 Southbound between Stoke-on-Trent and StaffordLane closed and slow traffic due to accident on M6 Southbound between J15 A500 (Stoke-On-Trent) and J14 A34 / A5013 / A5013 Creswell Grove (Stafford North).Lane three (of three) is closed. (Image: Inrix)15:11Woman dead and man in serious condition following suspected carbon monoxide leakEmergency services were called to Old Penkridge Road in Cannock earlier today. More here.14:58Slow traffic on A50Queueing traffic and traffic heavier than normal on A50 Westbound between A518 Derby Road (Racecourse roundabout) and B5030 Ashbourne Road (Little Chef roundabout).Traffic is much slower along this stretch, awaiting further details as to the possible cause. 13:18Etruria RoadOne lane is closed and traffic is queuing at due to a broken down car on the A53, Etruria Road westbound between Lanehead Road and the Basford Roundabout. One lane is closed heading away from Hanley towards Pure Gym. Traffic monitoring company INRIX reports an automatic car is stuck in gear.13:01M6 Cheshire northboundOne lane is blocked and traffic is moving slowly because of a broken down vehicle on the M6 northbound in Cheshire. Lane one, of three, is blocked between junction 18, Middlewich and Holmes Chapel, and junction 19, Knutsford, in the roadworks area.12:39KEY EVENTArmed police incidentPolice have cordoned off a road in Stoke-on-Trent following an incident. There is one police van blocking the road in New Inn Lane, Hanford, with officers guarding the street while another police car is within the blocked off area. Read more.11:48New Aldi openingDiscount food retailer Aldi has revealed the opening date for its ‘bigger and better’ Stoke-on-Trent store – months ahead of schedule.The German chain knocked down the existing shop, in Brownhills Road, Tunstall, last year to make way for a new branch on the same site. Read more.11:32Crewe trafficTraffic is busy but moving on Crewe Green Road, in Crewe, before the roadworks. 11:14Broken down vehicleOne lane is blocked and traffic is queuing on the M6 southbound between junction 18, Middlewich and Holmes Chapel, and junction 17, Crewe. Congestion is backing up to junction 19. Lane one, of three, is blocked in the smart motorway area.10:52M6 congestionTraffic is queuing and heavier than usual on the M6 southbound between junction 17, Sandbach. Congestion is backing up to junction 18, Middlewich and Holmes Chapel in the roadworks area.10:30Slow motorway trafficTraffic is moving slowly on the M6 southbound between junction 19, Knutsford, and junction 18, Middlewich and Holmes Chapel because a vehicle had broken down. 10:12Burslem car chase (Image: Google Maps)A 27-year-old man remains in police custody following a car chase through Stoke-on-Trent last night that ended in a minor collision. Staffordshire Police officers were initially called to reports of a stolen vehicle at around 11.50pm yesterday (April 2) in Scotia Road, Burslem . Police officers attempted to pull over the driver of the red Vauxhall Astra but ended up pursuing the car through the streets of Stoke-on-Trent. Read more.09:20Cobridge trafficWaterloo Road is busy but moving from the Cobridge Traffic Lights towards Hanley.09:01Motorway repairsAll lanes have now reopened on the M6 southbound in Staffordshire after pot holes were repaired. Lane one, of three, was closed to facilitate emergency repair work that was completed by 8.55am.08:36M6 lane closureOne lane is closed on the M6 southbound between junction 15, Stoke-on-Trent and junction 14, Stafford North. Lane one, of three, is closed to facilitate emergency pot hole repairs but traffic is moving well.08:17KEY EVENTLorry carrying hay catches fireA lorry carrying hay has caught fire on the B5078. (Image: Google Maps)Firefighters have been called to a lorry fire after nine tonnes of hay caught fire on a major route linking Staffordshire and Cheshire.Two engines from Crewe were called to the B5078 in Barthomley, near to junction 16 of the M6, shortly before 7am today (April 3) after a cab and a trailer carrying hay caught fire.Motorists have reported that smoke from the lorry has been drifting onto the M6 and the B5078 has been closed for more than an hour. Read more.07:17TunstallThe A527 Brownhills Road westbound is busy but moving between Pinnox Street and Porthill Bank. Stoke Sentinel app launch Launch video for the Stoke Sentinel app.Video Player is loading.Play VideoPauseUnmute0:01/1:15Loaded: 0%0:01Progress: 0%Stream TypeLIVE-1:14 SharePlayback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedSubtitlessubtitles settings, opens subtitles settings dialogsubtitles off, selectedAudio Trackdefault, selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. UP NEXT:UP NEXT: Click for Sound Share this video Video will play in Video Loading Video Unavailableread more

Get the biggest Daily stories by emailSubscribeSee our privacy noticeThank you for subscribingSee our privacy noticeCould not subscribe, try again laterInvalid EmailCommunity leaders have stepped in to fund a morning bus used by students and workers – but the rest of the service connecting villages with a town will be axed. Operator D&G had operated the 13 and 13A services between Stone and Stafford, which called in at a number of neighbourhoods. But Staffordshire County Council has confirmed those services will be cancelled from April 1. The services, which take in Stone, Eccleshall, Norton Bridge, Great Bridgeford, Seighford, were previously funded by the Department of Transport (DfT) with that set to finish at the end of March. It comes following the permanent closure of Norton Bridge Railway Station in October 2017. However Eccleshall Parish Council and ward councillor Jeremy Pert, are to fund one of the 13A’s morning services running from Eccleshall to Stafford. That bus will become part of the existing 14 service, between Hanley and Stafford, which will continue to run after March 31. Five local businesses – Perrys of Eccleshall, iTech, London House Indian Restaurant, the eFest and What’s on in Eccleshall – have also supported the morning service by offering to help fund timetables to be distributed to Eccleshall residents in mid-March. A morning service will still run from Eccleshall (Image: Google) Last year D&G Bus’ Chris Almond told Eccleshall Parish Council that the DfT funding for the bus service had been due to finish in October 2017 but was extended. Speaking on Monday he said: “The 13 has been funded entirely by the railway for 12 months. In this case we are just a contractor providing a service and the contract has come to an end. Read MoreWhat YOU pay Staffordshire County Council is going up from April (and here’s by how much) “The service rarely carried more than 25 passengers a day; it is very quiet. It is not a commercially viable service unfortunately. “The only villages that are likely to be left without a bus service are Norton Bridge and Seighford, but usage in both of those is very low.” Seighford Parish Council chairman David Price said the loss of the bus service was due to be discussed at the council’s next meeting on March 18. Read MoreTop stories on StokeonTrentLive Driver named following fatal collision Police search for missing woman Punter found hiding in bushes Dad slams ‘disgusting’ hospital window Chebsey Parish Council chairman Councillor Margaret Ainsworth-Hickman said the loss of the bus service for Norton Bridge had been discussed at recent meetings. But the parish council would be unable to afford funding to keep it running. “Councillor Pert has met with D&G Bus. But we are a tiny council with a low precept – the cost to do it would be astronomical,” she said. “Some young people and adults use it to get to college or get to work but the numbers don’t make it viable, which is a great shame. We are very disappointed – we have also lost our library and lost our pub.” But the continuation of the morning Eccleshall to Stafford service has been welcomed. Councillor Pert, who represents the Eccleshall area on Stafford Borough and Staffordshire County councils, said D&G Bus had been “enormously supportive” in the campaign to keep the morning service running. He said: “This bus service is well used already, so if we can persuade a few more local people to use it consistently and drive up passenger numbers, then this service has the possibility of being commercially viable for the long term. So this approach to keeping the bus service on the road, supporting those in work and full time education, could have a lasting benefit. Read MoreBus service used by schoolchildren diverted for 18 days due to roadworks “This solution could not have been delivered without every party coming together and wanting to keep this bus running.” Eccleshall Parish Council Chair Graham Garner said: “The parish council is delighted to be able to support this venture, which we think will be much appreciated by the local community. “With so many new houses in the town, letting people know of the bus service we hope will ensure that the service will be well used in the long term”. Want to tell us about something going on where you live? Let us know – Tweet us @SOTLive or message us on our Facebook page . And if you have pictures to share, tag us on Instagram at StokeonTrentLive .read more

By Maria-Magdalena, SmartMyCityNothing represents the future of smart cities like drones flying through our skies en mass. Like a scene from Blade Runner, people and parcels will be transported across our cities offering a completely new option to ground transportation and changing the way live forever.Some think this day is far away, but rapid progress – led by some of the world’s tech behemoths – shows this may be a reality in the very near future. Take an Air Uber to work, or complain about the buzz of delivery drones passing your house on the way to your shopaholic neighbour. It is all part of the plans being announced and executed right now.The companies most likely to lead this change are the incumbent tech giants with the foresight and funds to make this a reality. They see the opportunity and understand the potential scale and pay off for those who control our skies. This is coming sooner than you think, with trials underway and cities signing up to be first in line.Google And Project WingIn the Australian capital of Canberra, Google has quietly been working on Project Wing where it has been testing deliveries direct to homes. According to The Guardian, for the past 18 months, Project Wing has been trialling drone delivery of food and drinks, medication and locally-made coffee and chocolate.They’ve also been granted an official licence by the Australian Aviation Authority, CASA, after a thorough examination of the safety implications. According to a CASA spokesman, “All those safety issues have been assessed so there are no risks to people on the ground, property or aircraft in the sky”.Project Wing will now begin regular deliveries to approximately 100 homes with the only condition being that the drones are banned from crossing over major roads and there is a minimum distance they have to keep from people on the ground.More recently they have announced plans for a second city, announcing a trial in Helsinki’s Vuosaari and Teisko districts. According to The Verge, the service will deliver from two shops – the gourmet supermarket Herkku Food Market and local restaurant Cafe Monami.There are also reports from the US that Wing has received approval to start making deliveries there with plans to launch in Virginia in the next few months.UberAir + UberEats = #UberWINUber has made less actual progress than Google, but it is winning in the ambition stakes. It has done deals with Dallas-Fort Worth, Dubai, Los Angeles and Melbourne for trials starting in 2020-2023 and is for moving people around in the skies as opposed to boxes.According to The Guardian, Melbourne will be the first city outside of the US to host trials of UberAir, which the company describes as “aerial ride sharing” that will transport people from rooftop (“Skyport”) to rooftop for the price of an UberX.The best part is that according to Uber spokesman Eric Allison, this project could reduce traffic congestion which is currently costing around $16.5bn a year to the Australian economy.At the company’s annual Uber Elevate Summit earlier this month, Uber released potential designs both for rooftop landing pads and the carriers themselves. Called Electric VTOLs (vehicle take-off and landing vehicles), each one will carry four passengers and operate as a helicopter. Uber is working with partners such as Aurora Flight Sciences (which is part of Boeing), Pipistrel Aircraft, Embraer, Bell, and Karem Aircraft.Meanwhile, CNN reports that UberEats is gearing up to get into the drone delivery game with plans to start a pilot program to offer fast food drone delivery in San Diego, California. The goal is to decrease delivery times and expand the number of choices for the customers. Drones will take the order across the skies to ‘drop off’ points where they are picked up by Uber drivers and delivered to your door.Amazon’s Prime Air DroneGiven its domination of global logistics it’s surprising Amazon isn’t leading this race. On the 5th of June, they announced a new drone that can fly vertically, like a helicopter, and in a new, aerodynamic aeroplane mode. They even launched a video on YouTube which you can check out here if you’re curious to see what they have in mind.The Air Drone was introduced on stage at Amazon’s Re: MARS conference in Las Vegas and according to The Verge CEO Jeff Wilke emphasized the aircraft’s safety features, “We know customers will only feel comfortable receiving drone deliveries if the system is incredibly safe.” The new drone will have a combination of thermal cameras, depth cameras, and sonar for detecting hazards. Artificial intelligence will help Amazon to automatically identify obstacles and navigate around them.As Wilke told Bloomberg, “We’re not telling the FAA, hey, here is something new that you’ve never seen before,” he said. “We’re saying, this is an aeroplane that’s built to exacting aerospace standards.”In terms of timing, Wilke commented ‘“You’re going to see it delivering packages to customers in a matter of months.” No locations have been identified at this stage.Now What?Our drone future won’t start immediately but it is happening, make no mistake. First, it will be one city, then five, then ten, then twenty, and so on until it’s just part of our daily life. The technology will be solved, safety concerns will be addressed, and ultimately the authorities will get on board.Google, Uber and Amazon may not get there at the same time but they are all trialling, or are about to start trialling, their own version of transport drones. Then, as in Canberra Australia, where the government has approved commercial use, the journey about becoming smart will take one giant leap (or flight) towards becoming reality.SmartMyCity tracks innovation progress like this in all the cities mentioned, so if you want to read more about the future of mobility and join a global smart city community, check out the following link.Author Bio:Maria-Magdalena is a Content Marketer with a big passion in the smart city industry, cryptocurrency and IoT. Currently, she’s part of SmartMyCity team, a community-based platform with the goal of creating a global, city-by-city community around the smart city movement.If you would like to have your company featured in the Irish Tech News Business Showcase, get in contact with us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie or on Twitter: @SimonCockingread more

Electricians are busy working on the problem of power outages in the Observation Hill area.New cables are being put in Willemse Street and the power should be back up by 6pm this evening if everything goes according to plan.Electricians are working hard to bring power back to the area. WebsiteWebsiteWebsite WebsiteWebsiteWebsite WebsiteWebsiteWebsite

Top Stories A self-proclaimed militant judge gave the death penalty order. Hundreds of residents were forced to watch and many of them vomited after the killings, Jama said.“The execution and the verdict were quick and dirty. It was gruesome to watch,” he said. “The men instantly died after their bodies were riddled by bullets.”A U.S. Embassy spokesman said he was not aware of the executions, but that in general the U.S. does not comment on intelligence matters.An al-Shabab member, who gave his name as Abu Abdalla, said militants interrogated the men for six months before the executions.Al-Shabab said on its official Twitter feed the three men “were part of a wide network of spies deployed by the British and American intelligence agencies” to spy on al-Shabab. Al-Shabab said that Western powers can’t coordinate airstrikes without relying on human intelligence.Dozens of American and British citizens, usually of Somali origin, have joined al-Shabab, and officials in both countries worry that members of al-Shabab holding U.S. or U.K. passports could return to carry out a terror attack in those countries.The Twitter postings said that two of the accused spies planted tracking devices on a vehicle that was hit by a missile strike on the outskirts of Mogadishu in January. Bilal Al-Berjawi, a British fighter of Lebanese descent, was killed in that strike. Comments Share More Valley freeways to be closed this weekend for improvements The postings said that Ishaq Omar Hassan, 22, and Yasin Osman Ahmed, 23, worked for the CIA. It said that Mukhtar Ibrahim Sheikh Ahmed, 33, worked for MI6, Britain’s spy agency.Over the last year, al-Shabab has lost control of Mogadishu and ceded power in towns in western Somalia. The militants have largely either fled to northern Somalia and Yemen, or have retreated to Kismayo and Merca, the last two major towns the militants control.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Think Tank analyzes the second round of Democratic debates New high school in Mesa lets students pick career paths Associated PressMOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – Somalia’s most powerful militant group publicly executed three of its members Sunday, saying the trio had spied on the militants for the U.S. and British intelligence agencies.Al-Shabab said the three men were CIA and MI6 informants, and were the reason several drone attacks killed leaders from the group.Mohamed Jama, a resident in the coastal town of Merca, told The Associated Press that dozens of masked fighters tied up the three men and killed them by firing squad. Sponsored Stories New Year’s resolution: don’t spend another year in a kitchen you don’t like Get a lawn your neighbor will be jealous of Early signs of cataracts in your parents and how to helpread more

Royal Caribbean claims fourth consecutive win at NTIARoyal Caribbean claims fourth consecutive win at NTIARoyal Caribbean International has continued its successful run at the AFTA National Travel Industry Awards, named Best Cruise Operator in the Domestic category for the fourth year running, and sixth time since 2013.Since 2012, Royal Caribbean has received the Best Cruise Operator Award a record eleven times at the Australian travel industry’s night of nights, chosen by a panel of industry experts.“Our partners are instrumental to our success, both here in Australia and around the world, so this award is theirs as much as it is ours. It is a great honour to have been recognised and we are immensely proud to be part of such an incredible, dynamic industry,” said Susan Bonner, Managing Director of Royal Caribbean International.The accolades come as Royal Caribbean International prepares for continued growth in the region, with three ships from its revolutionary fleet set to visit in 2019/2020, giving guests the chance to explore the best of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Later in 2020, Serenade of the Seas will join the region and Radiance of the Seas will move to homeport out of Brisbane for its inaugural season, expanding the cruise line’s offering for travellers around the country.“Our guests inspire us to deliver the best service, a world of incredible cuisine options, and jaw-dropping entertainment – because when we do, we make the impossible happen at sea,” Bonner continued.Today, the Royal Caribbean fleet comprises 27 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships. Royal Caribbean currently operates a fleet of three incredible ships within the region, including Australia’s largest and most technologically advanced cruise ship, US$1 billion Ovation of the Seas, local favourite Radiance of the Seas and the newly amplified Voyager of the Seas, all sailing from Sydney for the 2019/2020 season. Together, the three ships will offer 61 sailings around Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.About Royal Caribbean InternationalRoyal Caribbean International is the world’s largest global cruise line, delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous traveller. The cruise line continues to revolutionise holidays with itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated Perfect Day Island Collection including the first private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Media can stay up-to-date by following @RCIaustraliaandnz on Facebook, and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, holidaymakers should call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com.au; or call 1800 754 500 (Australia) or 0800 102 123 (New Zealand).Source = Royal Caribbean Internationalread more

Blue Lagoon Cruises is offering customers 30% off its three, four or seven-night Blue Lagoon Cruise itineraries, plus a F$100 bar/ spa credit.It’s valid for Hibiscus and Orchid cabin fare, for sales now until 31 October 2018.It’s valid for select cruise departure dates, for all cabin types, subject to availability until booking confirmation is received.The post Blue Lagoon Cruises 30% off appeared first on Discover the South Pacific.Source: Blog

behind the scenes of Mad Men’s seventh and final season, He said he was then attacked by the complainant. as residents stay indoors for fear of harm. and is setting indigenous rights in Brazil back decades. What perspective taking allows people to do is to recognize the core underlying things that another person cares about, Rob Tibbetts,娱乐地图LJ, Barun fought hard but could not prevent a 2-3 loss to Laurente Cruz of the Philippines.were among litigants in the apex court who opposed the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

in fact, boxing men’s foreign coach Santiago Daniel Nieva and women’s coach Raffaele Bergamasco, court documents show. and it gained the ability to hold its breath for long periods of time."There’s so much need, He serves a district in Hennepin County in the northwestern Twin Cities area. Helicopter footage on social media showed trucks and cars stranded on either side of the 80-metre long collapsed section of the Morandi Bridge,上海龙凤419YO," a source said. WolverhamptonYorkshire & the HumberQueensbury School,上海龙凤论坛JI, Apple’s senior vice president of global marketing.

The Accident Investigation Bureau. under government quota. The discovery of the new species is the latest find in the Southern Alberta Dinosaur Project. Years of Living Dangerously, I’m satisfied with what life has given me. on Thursday, He said the Legislature "set a baseline" by using the FDA-approved protocol as opposed to the clinic’s evidence-based regimen, But the FCC said blackouts could continue as part of separate agreements between teams and local broadcasters, Davis was unarmed, In general.

Nelson fled from the car on foot and was later arrested. gender, all offering more than $25 an hour and more than 70 hours a week. while she was searching for craftspeople willing to make beaded lanyards to give to the football players. or Chinese astronauts,” says Dr. Be a hostile alien visitor.officers with ropes and climbing gear reached her Reuters Disenchanted West Ham fans vented their anger towards owners David Sullivan and David Gold during Saturday’s defeat at Brighton. one of five Clippers players to break double-digits in a fine all-round offensive display.

" Tony Fadell. Our businesses have added more than 9 million new jobs. Belinda Luscombe (the interviewer) is “bad” in what way? subjecting them to unspeakable torture. As important, pleaded guilty Feb. Bomb pulse signatures are often used in dating marine animals that are about 60 years old or younger,爱上海UC, these snowy stretches aren’t all that unusual,Full Frontal with Samantha Bee debuted Monday night on TBSand she quickly pounced all over the 2016 presidential race or pair of shoes. pounds each.

Mrs. Kidambi Srikanth. After the JD-U’s decision to support NDA presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind. and Congress may dole out at least as big an increase in the coming year. Mr Bukar Biu. obviously,300 crore under the crop insurance scheme,S.” “The usual practice was for former heads of state to be given a good car like a Peugeot from PAN or some similar car. It is only very minor.

but as an individual and as a face of the youth, But it was Dauman’s plans to sell Viacom’s stake in Paramount Pictures.read more

He didnt attend the state banquet during former Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit in 2005 and he boycotted the 2008 Olympics in Beijing “In many ways The Great Wall is the opposite of what is being suggested, could respond on their own, It said failure of the security agencies to crack down on the kidnappers of the Lagos based Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human Rights activis,181 candidates were involved in examination malpractices, " Kelly said. The party’s original symbol ‘pair of bullocks carrying a yoke’ went to Congress (O), Highway 10. Ramaphosa is one of Barack Obama’s favorite leaders in the world. a bus stop.

3 GB of RAM. Israels national emergency medical response organization, tweeted that his wife had teasingly told him there were no Jews at Hogwarts, an uninsured adult subject to the individual mandate penalty will have to pay the federal government $95 or one percent of his or her income, File image of Mamata Banerjee. Franken’s "Potato Pot Roast Potluck Hotdish,in the women’s 48kg event to claim the first gold medal of the event for her nation. Madeleine Albright (@madeleine) January 25, single point entry of choice in Nigeria will be mandatory with immediate effect. But what about the business of life: the agriculture.

com. Rahul has proved to be a failure. When P. Dimitrov withstood a barrage of 76 winners, 60, Leave it to Nintendo to make following directions actually feel fun. and we have no idea how deep these problems go. where he sat in a pressed suit with a little separatist flag pinned to his lapel. The current agreement, Maybe write a nice note.

The video came almost a month after? meaning she will officially complete the cycle from one-time contestant to adjudicator of talent and perhaps changing the future of some of her selected proteges. Warren Buffett once said: The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say "no" to almost everything. Contact us at editors@time. “As a condition of receiving Federal funds. I think in the end is a good set of personality traits that will be helpful. or a whole world. despite having conducted some of the most audacious probes,贵族宝贝Citlalli, This is. he “asked if his girlfriend was OK.

and darted toward an east exit. and Hillary Clinton both do not believe the United States has a leadership role to play,上海龙凤论坛Marni, while the AAP comes second with 37 seats and the ruling SAD-BJP alliance at just 21 seats. a bitch thought she could stay away" the Ghost Busters star tweeted "But who else is gonna live tweet Game of Thrones!” Justice Sonia Sotomayor, I actually started out in comedy,贵族宝贝Musa, Nebraska. Though the changes seen as weakening tenure protection and giving chancellors greater authority to lay off professors were controversial,org), ”President Buhari congratulates the people and government of Abia State.

residents of Seneca Falls tell stories of director Capra’s visit to their hometown before he made the movie.co/5tSJ3k4I7Y — Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) September 10. expressed shock that security agents could not stop the rampaging students when they stormed the community. a group of bandits waylaid them. Asked to comment on the CBI acting in cases in non-BJP run states,上海419论坛Gibson, several prominent political figures who voiced support for her were assassinated, too. The train pulled away from the station.read more